Ten passengers and one pilot rescued from downed Kenmore Air flight near Sucia Island, Several employees of Lynden packing plant detained following ICE “soft raid”, WCSO seeking information following death of bicyclist found unconscious by roadside, Cleanup of King Mountain homeless encampment scheduled for early August, Whatcom County Council to hold public hearing on additional tax aimed at funding ferries, F&C – JULY 25, Lummi Nation receives EPA award for upgrades made to wastewater treatment plant, Two states seek to break the hold of corporate money in local elections, FREE & CHEAP, August 9th:
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, July 24th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Ten passengers and one pilot rescued from downed Kenmore Air flight near Sucia Island
All passengers are accounted for after a Kenmore Air seaplane crashed near Sucia Island.
The Coast Guard says the plane made an emergency landing in Shallow Bay at around 5:15 p.m. yesterday, then caught fire. On board, there were ten passengers and the pilot. Two were transported to Bellingham, and another two were transported to Orcas Island for treatment.
Kenmore Air would not speculate on the cause of the crash.
STORY: Several employees of Lynden packing plant detained following ICE “soft raid”
Several employees of a Lynden seafood packing plant were detained following an ICE raid.
Faith-based nonprofit Racial Unity Now (RUN) reports that on Wednesday, employees of Premier Packing were detained by ICE officers. Witnesses reported that officers waited for employees to cross the street to receive water from a volunteer before detaining them.
RUN says that over the last few months, ICE has detained at least 50 workers at this packing plant alone. The operation in Lynden is what RUN calls a “soft raid”, which refers to the covert tactics employed by ICE to detain people in public near their work.
They say ICE is doing this to sidestep the legal requirements for judicial search warrants on private property.
According to the press release, ICE raids in Lynden exceed the national average and leave families and the labor force vulnerable.
STORY: WCSO seeking information following death of bicyclist found unconscious by roadside
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department is asking for information about the death of a cyclist near North Lake Samish Drive.
Deputies were dispatched on July 11 to respond to an injured and unconscious cyclist on the road. The cyclist, Cole Hilton, was taken to the hospital but succomed to his injuries.
His wife Linda said she was told the injuries were consistent with a hit-and-run. She and the Sheriff’s Department are asking residents in the area to check their security and Ring cameras for July 11 between 1 and 2 p.m., in case they caught any footage that could help the investigation.
STORY: Cleanup of King Mountain homeless encampment scheduled for early August
Cleanup begins soon at a large homeless encampment in the King Mountain neighborhood.
City officials announced Wednesday that several private property owners will begin a coordinated cleanup and environmental restoration at the site, which spans roughly 40 acres of land.
Deputy City Administrator Janice Keller says people living at the site will receive notices to vacate in early August before crews begin building access roads and start cleanup operations.
Keller says the cleanup is designed to address health, safety, and environmental concerns, including fire risk, waste accumulation, and damage to the surrounding area.
Officials say residents should expect increased heavy machinery and waste cleanup activity in the area.
STORY: Whatcom County Council to hold public hearing on additional tax aimed at funding ferries
The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing on proposed property tax levies for the County’s Ferry District.
Council members will have the third and final vote on three funding options for the new district.
KMRE spoke with Council member Jon Scanlon to learn more.
SCANLON AUDIO 1
The proposed levies range from about 6.3 to 8.7 cents per $1000 of assessed property value which add from around $26 to $52 per year to the property tax on a $600,000 home in Whatcom. Scanlon says he supports the measure.
SCANLON AUDIO 2
We asked Council Member Scanlon why those who never go to Lummi Island should support the ferry financially.
SCANLON AUDIO 3
We also asked him why the measure did not go to the people for a vote.
SCANLON AUDIO 4
The hearing begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the Council Chambers at the Whatcom County Courthouse. Residents may attend in person or online through Zoom.
To hear the full interview, tune in after the 5pm news.
F&C – JULY 25
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Ferndale’s Pioneer Days runs today and tomorrow with free entertainment, kid stuff, food vendors, and more. Tomorrow features a car show on First Avenue from 8am to noon and the Grand Parade at 11am. Evening dances are being held at the Pioneer Beer Garden, with Whiplash Rodeo tonight and Sunset Superman tomorrow.
Birch Bay is hosting the Battle of the Badges BBQ. On Saturday, North Whatcom Fire District 21 and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office face off at the grill from 11 to 2pm in the Birch Bay Waterslides parking lot. Families can enjoy free burgers and hot dogs, games, music, and a chance to meet local first responders.
Lynden Airport’s Jansen Field hosts its open house tomorrow from 9 to 1pm, a free, family-friendly event with aircraft displays, food and ice-cream vendors, and plenty of summertime fun.
The York Yard Crawl runs tomorrow from 3 to 8pm. It’s a neighborhood-wide mix of yard sales, art, music, and family activities throughout Bellingham’s York neighborhood. A map is available at yorkyardcrawl.fun.
The Inclusion Festival brings a full day of accessible, all-ages activities to Bellingham, Sunday from 11 to 6pm at the Fisherman’s Pavilion at Zuanich Park. Inclusive games, sensory-friendly areas, craft vendors, food trucks, live music, workshops, and the Walk-n-Roll-athon offer fun for everyone. Admission is free.
Burlington rescue group Saving Pets One at a Time (or SPOT) holds its annual yard sale this weekend at 830 Spruce Street tomorrow from 9 to 4pm and Sunday from 8 to noon: in Burlington.
WX: Glow ‘n low
And now weather…
After the light rain last night, it’s all sun today with highs approaching 80, while light winds will make it feel a bit cooler. Clouds should start rolling in tonight with winds picking up and lows in the upper 50s.
Saturday, we’ll see partly sunny skies with highs in the mid-70s and more clouds in the evening. Expect rain on Sunday as the day progresses with highs in the mid-70s, and more rain in the evening. Possible clearing on Monday.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg, Kathi O’Shea, Kai Blais-Schmolke, Bella Farris, Jenny Lam, Natalie Jones, Noelle Reger, and Sean Lynch. Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by your donations. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb________… thanks for listening!
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STORY: Lummi Nation receives EPA award for upgrades made to wastewater treatment plant
The EPA is recognizing the Lummi Tribal Sewer and Water District for major upgrades to the Gooseberry Point wastewater plant.
The district earned a national PISCES award for improvements that bring the plant back into compliance and keep it operating during storms and high tides. The work included replacing failing equipment with a modern activated-sludge system, new pumps, and improved controls.
The $15 million project was financed through federal and state revolving-fund loans. It’s expected to cut pollution, protect Tribal and commercial shellfish beds, and improve habitat for species including Southern Resident orcas.
It’s also one of five “exceptional projects” honored nationwide this year.
STORY: Two states seek to break the hold of corporate money in local elections
Hawaiʻi and Montana are challenging the role of corporate dark money in elections.
Hawaiʻi has changed its state law by saying that corporations have “artificial-person powers” and cannot engage in any election or ballot measure activity reserved for real people. Montana has a citizen’s initiative on the November ballot that would ban organizations from contributing “anything of value” to candidates, political parties, and state or local ballot issues.
The efforts seek to sidestep the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision by using state authority over corporate charters. Supporters argue the measures would reduce the influence of money in politics and increase transparency. Opponents contend the laws violate First Amendment protections for organizations.
The legal challenges could test whether states have the authority to redefine the political powers they grant to corporations.
FREE & CHEAP, August 9th:
Ferndale hosts a free Play, Learn & Connect Festival this weekend. The event runs Sunday from 11 to 2 at Pioneer Park, with giant building blocks, arts and crafts, hands-on learning activities, community booths, and food trucks. It’s designed to celebrate play while connecting families with local programs and services.
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